Percolator and the like



Mrch 1s 1924. 1,486,943

W. O. BATES, JR

PEmcoLA'roR AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f 7L/jl;

/ n Hll V iz ,I 5 il Mrch 1s, 1924. A L's W. C. BATES, JR

PERCOLATOR AND THE LIKE 'iled' Feb. 21. 192s '2 Sneetesheet 2vconstruction,and c iam WILLIAM O. BATES, JR., OFJOLIET, ILLINOIS.

PERCOLATOR AND THE LIKE;

' Application vmea :february 21, 1923. serial Ng. $270,351.

To all 'whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that L-WILLIAM O. BATES, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Joliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPercolators and thelike, of which the followingis a specification. f l

This invention has to do with certain improvements in percolators formaking beverages such as coffee and the like. The main object of theinvention is to provide a very.

simple and convenient,V arrangement for indicating to the usertheapproximate time during which the percolating action has progressedso that the user will be readily -informed as to the completion of thepercolating interval without the need of using a special instrument suchas a watchror clock.

`Another object in this connection is to provide this time measuringelement in the form of an attachment which can `be readily used inconjunction with percolators of familiar form such as are in use today,without having to reconstructor reorganize the same to any materialextent. In this connection a further `object is to provide the timemeasuring device of such form and arrangement that it can be readilysubstituted in the place of the glass top which is famil iarly used withthe covers for percolators.

A further object in connection with the foregoing features is tomakeprovision for indicating the proper time interval for the percolatingactionwhen `different amounts of` coffee and different amounts of waterare used in the percolator. For example, if the proper amount of coffeeand wateris placed in the percolator to make three cups, the total timefor making` the beverage should be different from that proper for makingfive cups. -It is, therefore, a further object" of the invention toprovide a time measuring device which is so `calibrated that anindication will be given as to the proper time interval for thedifferent amounts within 'the capacity of the .percolaton Av A furtherobject4 is to provide aV construce` tion such that the device can be.easily rel moved .for replacement4 orv repair ,or for cleaningpurposes.

Other objects and uses ofthe invention will appear from a detaileddescriptionof the same, which consists in the features o f A ombinationsof partshere' inlafter described and'claimed."

`In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a vertical section through a percolatorprovided with atop embodying the features of the present invention, the central portionof the pot being broken away so as to shorten up the figure;

Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the percolator top of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a vertical section through a modified form of'top embodyingthe features of the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows avertical section through another modified form of top; and

Fig.'5 shows a plan view of the form shown in Fig; 4.

The pot, in its entirety, is designated by the numeral. It is providedwith the usual basket' 5 which holds the coffee, and which basket is,provided with the perforations" 6 to allow theliquid to trickle backinto the body of the pot.' It is also provided with the gu'sher tube 7leading from the lower portion of the pot to the discharge point 8 wherethe liquid is thrown out and finds its way down onto the coffeecontained vwithin the basket 5.

The percolator illustrated includes a cap 9 which can be set downtoclose the pot or the basket or both. This cap 9 is provided with a`Ycentral opening into which is ordinarily set a glass top into which theliquid from the gusher tube is thrown, so that the user can watchthe'progress of the percolating action by watching the liquid throwninto -this glass top.

In the present case I remove the glass top,

' reaches through the opening of the cap 9.

This fiange 12 is provided' with a pair of side lugs 13 and 14 which maybeset through notchesfin'the Vsides of the opening ofthe cap' 9, 'sothat the top member 10 may then be turned through a quarter turn andthus locked in place.

`The l'topllO also includes a bell shaped partition 15, the centralportion 16 of which is'fextendedupwards and isprovided with aperforation 17 through which portion of the liquid may be projected anddischarged into the chamber 11. The shape and size of the partition andthe opening 17 are such, with Yrespect to the gusher tube, that only asmall and predetermined portion of the liquid thrown up through thegusher tube will be allowed to enter the chamber 11 and be trappedtherein. The great bulk of the liquid will be thrown back onto thecoffee within the basket 5 in accordance with the usual percolatingaction.

A removable cap 18 is provided for the chamber 10 so that by removingsaid chamber from the cap 9`and then removing the cap 18 the liquidwithin the cap 10 can be either poured back into the pot t or thrownaway. In any case, however, the percentage of liquid within the cap 10as compared to the total within the .pot is small and therefore the lossor interference with'the percolating action is very small in amount.

VThecap 10-may be provided with a series ofmarkings 19 located atdiiierent eleva-`V tions, and provided with numerals corresponding todifferent quantities of beverage.

For example, the markings 19 may be placed at Vthe Vdifferent elevationscorresponding toV the completion of thepercolating action for two,three, four or ve cups of coffee; and when the elevation of the liquidin the cap 1QV reaches theproper mark, the operator will -know that thepercolating action is completed. be provided with similar` markings intheV Y form of projections 20 located at different elevationscorrespondingV to the correctV If desired, the basket Vinay Y amounts ofcoffee for diiferent Y uantities of beverage; and 1n like manner t e potma be provided with projections 21 correspon ing tothe proper amounts ofwater to bel i placed in the pot for the same uantities of beverage;VItYIw-ill beunderstoo therefore,

' that theY amount of water in thepot, the

amount of coiiee in the basket, and the in- Vdications Von Ythe top 10,are all properly co-ordinated, so that the operator is aproper'indication'of the time interva forV iven the percolatingractionin each case.

In the modified arrangement shown in Fig.

3, the top 10 is'provided with'a partition 22 VYwhich has 'a'Vrelatively Vlarge openingV 23 ,tlfirroughwhich'aV portion-of theliquidis Y' Y i Y .5V projected into anfintemnediate chamber 24 having aremovable capV 25; Y This inter- 'Y mediate'chamberi24jis`so arrangedthat the VVelevation of the Vliquid therein cannot ex-V ceed a certain;point,since thereafter the liquid will simply flow VVback through the'opening 23 down into :the basket 5. This arrangement islmade:possible'bythe dei pressed portion 26around'the chamber p The 'dooro'f'the Vchamber V24V fis'also' pro- 'v Y vided withY one Vor.morerelatively smallY openings 27 throughV whchthe liquid from with thef opening the chamber 24 may trickle into an outer chamber 28 which Visprovided with a re-j terval for different quantities of beverage.

-When this form of the invention is used,

the liquid ultimately remaining inthe two chambers 2li and 28maybeeither thrown away or returned to the pot as desired. t A

ln the modified construction shown -in j Figs. l and 5, the top 10 isprovided with a partition 3VO having a relatively large opening 31. Ametal cap 32 is spun overY the top of the device above the opening 31,said cap having an openingBS in register e 3l, Vbut preferably ofslivhtly smallersize. Y y Y Y i .L plate 34C is pivoted to the V32V the1 point, said plate having a seriesfof openings 36 ofV graduated sizelocated iii-circularVN V fashion around the pivot point and'atjtheproper radius, so that by turningV theplate oneor the other of theseopenings canbe brought into register Vwith the opening'of'Y the cap. ltis thus possible Vto adjust the Y.

size of the opening `thrfiyugh which theYV trapped liquidtwill pasan-ndis thuspossible to calibrate the device-so as to makeitj readproperly..V This feature may in some cases be found of value, since thetotal`9time'- for the percolating action will-depend.somie-V theperforations in the'basket, etc.

Y what uponisuch conditions as to the size of i .Whilel have hereinshown andthascribed';V

only certain embodiments of -the'rfeatures of my p-resent invention,stilll do`not limit Y myself to the in the claims. lfclaim:V

1. In a percolatorthe combinationrwitli same except( as I maydo4 soyY11ov the pot, basket, and gushertube thereof, of

Va transparent glass top member locatedA above and in immediateproximity to theY V,upper discharge end ofthe'gusher tube, saidYtopmember including a circulartrapfhaving an inverted cup shaped.loorabo've the upper f-"f end of the gusher tube,5 said'floorbeingpro'- Yvided .at its upper extreme VendY withfa'per-v foration ofrelatively'smallgsizefas compared ,to the gusher tube, whereby themaior'por-VV 2 tion of the liquidV delivered upwardlythrough i i the`gushertube against thepartition. is im: mediately "diverted 1downwardly into basket, and whereby a relativelyYsmall.por-'V Ytionfofsaid liquid passes throught'rieperl.V Y

foration ofY the'partition Aintol thertrap: *andiV if substaniatllyas'desV Y Y is retained therein, scribed. Y

2. In a percolator the combination with' the top, basket, and gushertube thereof, of a transparent top member located above and in immediateproximity to the upper discharge end of the gusher tube, said top memberincluding a trap, having an inverted cup shaped floor above the upperend of the gusher tube, said floor being provided with a perforation ofrelatively small size as compared to the gusher tube, whereby the majorportion of the liquid delivered upwardly through the gusher tube againstthe partition is immediately diverted downwardly into the basket, andwhereby a relatively small portion of said liquid passes through theperforation into the trap and is retained therein, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a percolator the combinationwith the pot, basket, and gusher tubethereof, of a top member located above and in immediate proximity to theupper discharge end of the gusher tube, said top member including a traphaving a floor located above the upper discharge end of the gusher tube,and there being a relatively small perforation leading into said trap,whereby the major portion of the liquid delivered upwardly throughthegusher tube against the partition is immediately diverted downwardlyinto the basket, and whereby a relatively small portion of said liquidpasses through the perforation into the trap and is retained therein,substantially as described.

4. In a percolator the combination with the pot, basket, and gusher tubethereof, of a top member located above in close proximity to the upperdischarge end of the gusher tube and including a partition adapted todivert the major portion of the liquid delivered by the gusher tubedirectly back into the basket, and including a trap, together with aperforation in the partition communicating with the trap, whereby themajor portion of the liquid delivered upwardly through the gusher tubeis returned directly to the basket, and whereby a portion of the liquidpasses through the perforation into the trap, substantially asdescribed.

5. As a new article of manufacture a glass top for a percolator and thelike, said glass top having an inverted cup shaped licor, a circulartrap surrounding the central portion of said floor, and a perforation inthe central upper portion of the fioor permitting passage of liquidtherethrough, substantially as described.

6. As a new article of manufacture a top for percolators and the likefor the purpose specified including an inverted cup shaped floor, a trapchamber adjacent thereto, and a perforation in the upper central portionof the door permitting transfer of liquid therethrough to the trap,substantially as described.

7. As a new article of manufacture a top for percolators and the likefor the purpose specified including a oor, a circular trap above thesame, and a perforation in the {ioor permitting transfer of liquidtherethrough to the trap, substantially as described.

8. As a new article of manufacture a top for percolators and the likefor the purpose specified including a trap on one side thereof, and aperforation in the floor permitting transfer of liquid therethrough tothe trap, substantially as described.

WILLIAM O. BATES, JR.

